In celebration of their inspiring work, we are highlighting our Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) members who are leading the way in reducing plastic waste and embracing sustainable practices. The initiatives of these hospitals show that with a commitment to sustainability, significant changes are possible, benefiting both the planet and patient care.
Hospital General Salvatierra (Mexico)
Hospital General Salvatierra tackled the problem of plastic waste generated by their catering service, specifically focusing on polystyrene and polypropylene plates, cups, and cutlery for patients and staff. In 2023, the hospital stopped purchasing these single-use items and replaced them with reusable melamine dishware, which has a lifespan of up to 10 years. This change resulted in an annual savings of over 63,000 Mexican pesos (approximately 3,827 USD).
South West Healthcare (Australia)
South West Healthcare is focused on replacing single-use plastics with biodegradable and compostable products. By providing feedback to a supplier, they supported the development of a fully compostable anesthetic tray. In a single year, this initiative prevented 328,000 plastic medical items—including straws, injection trays, and kidney dishes—from ending up in landfills. The hospital also trialed compostable alternatives for 12 months before making them the standard single-use option, a process that also led to decreased costs and improved clinical procedures
Karolinska University Hospital (Sweden)
Karolinska University Hospital aims to increase circular resource management and reduce GHG emissions by 40% by 2027. A pilot department achieved a 5% reduction in glove usage through the "Proper Use of Examination Gloves" campaign. By the end of 2026, the hospital's circular apron program aims to utilize 3 million reprocessed aprons. A long-term plan is in place to transition to reusable items, such as breast pump sets and patient monitoring accessories, which is projected to prevent 22 tons of CO2 and save approximately 9 million SEK (around 938,700 USD) annually.
Hospital Militar Escuela "Dr. Alejandro Dávila Bolaños" (Nicaragua)
The hospital’s clinical laboratory service found a creative way to reuse clean plastic waste from biomedical equipment. They collect plastic materials like racks and tip buckets to be transformed into handicrafts and office supplies such as pencil holders and puzzles. Some of these new products are donated to a foundation for children with disabilities, promoting both environmental education and social inclusion. This initiative has reduced the volume of common waste in the lab by over 8%.
Hospital Las Higueras (Chile)
Hospital Las Higueras implemented a plastic recycling system after identifying a large generation of unquantified and unsorted plastic waste, including serum containers, bottles, and dressing drums. After partnering with a local recycling company, they installed containers for plastic segregation. In the first month of the pilot program in the Gynecology unit, they collected 146 kg of plastic. The initiative was so successful that it inspired community members to contact the same company to install recycling containers in their neighborhoods.
These examples from GGHH members demonstrate that hospitals can drive meaningful change by rethinking procurement, embracing circularity and engaging the community.
The journey to a plastic-free health care system is a collective one. To learn more about these initiatives and other success stories, visit our library of case studies on GGHH Connect.